Health Minister pledges to introduce bill to bring IVF and surrogacy under clear legal ambit

Kathmandu, Sept 18 (RSS): Minister for Health and Food Hygiene, Nisha Mehta, said necessary legal arrangement would be made to effectively regulate the matter relating to Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) and surrogacy.

Responding to queries over resolution motion regarding law-making on regulating the use of ART in today’s meeting of the National Assembly, she dubbed expansion, access, regulation and management of infertility, Intrauterine Insemination (IUI), Invitro Fertilization (IVF) and ART services as sensitive and important issues.

Citing the Constitution’s assurance for every citizen’s right to basic health services and every woman’s right to safe motherhood and reproductive health, she asserted it is the government’s responsibility to protect citizens’ reproductive health rights, provide safe and quality health services, and ensure equal access to these services.

Noting that the Public Health Service Regulations, 2020, have included IVF as a specialized service, she shared the government has been making policy and institutional arrangements for infertility management services.

“The government has prepared and implemented the ‘Standards for Operating Infertility Management Services, 2025’.” she informed.

Mehta added that these standards provide the basis for screening, diagnosis, prevention, counselling and referral of infertility cases, including medication, necessary surgeries, and running services like IUI and IVF from health facilities that meet the stipulated standards.

“Health facilities operating IUI services need to have maternity and gynaecology services, an endocrinology lab, a cold chain, pharmacy, essential laboratory facilities, and emergency care”, she further said.

Although Nepal has some legal and policy frameworks regarding IVF and surrogacy, there is still a need for a separate legal structure that clearly, comprehensively, and effectively addresses all aspects of modern assisted reproductive technologies, she went on saying.

The minster also highlighted necessity to make the existing legal framework clearer and more organized by including various Supreme Court orders and directives, evolving medical technology, reproductive rights, medical ethics, the rights of service users, management of reproductive materials, regulation of service provider institutions, and issues like surrogacy.

Meanwhile, today’s meeting of the National Assembly passed a resolution on ‘drafting a law to regulate the use of assisted reproductive technology.’

The resolution, presented by National Assembly member Madan Kumari Shah (Garima), was discussed and then unanimously approved after the response from Minister of Health and Food Safety, Nisha Mehta.

Minister Mehta expressed her commitment to introduce the necessary law within this fiscal year.

During the meeting, NA Chair Narayan Prasad Dahal instructed the government to enact the law according to the commitment, as the resolution was passed.

He also directed the relevant committees of the assembly to monitor its implementation as needed.

On behalf of Prime Minister Balendra Shah, Minister for Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs, Sobita Gautam, presented the annual reports of the Judicial Council and the Judicial Service Commission for fiscal years 2080/81 and 2081/82.

Next meeting of the NA will be held on September 21, at 1:15 pm.